1936 arkansas - robinson Banner

1936 Arkansas – Robinson Half Dollar

 

 1936 ROBINSON Obverse       1936 ROBINSON Reverse
 

Click the images above for enhanced view.

Purpose:

To raise funds for the Arkansas Centennial Commission.

Maximum Number Authorized: 50,000 pieces.

Sale Price: $1.85        

Designs:

    Obverse – Edward Everett Burr

Bust of Senator Joseph T. Robinson facing right. “ARKANSAS CENTENNIAL 1836-1936” appears at the upper border. The Senator’s name is located below his chin in the lower right field. The designer’s initial appears near Senator Robinson’s shoulder.

Online Resource: https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/artifact/Painting_32_00011.htm  

   Reverse – Henry Kreiss

An eagle with outstretched wings facing right. The eagle is perched atop a sun. Within its beak, an eagle holds a ribbon bearing two mottoes: “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Three stars are positioned directly above the eagle. A single star is located just above the name “Arkansas.” Above the eagle is an outline of the top portion of a diamond embedded with 13 stars.

Online Resource: https://constitutingamerica.org/arkansas-a-brief-history-of-statehood-guest-essayist-the-honorable-tim-griffin

Popularity:

Of the 50,000 pieces authorized, only 25,250 were minted for sale to the public. No coins were returned to the Mint.

Trivia:

  • The coins were actually minted in January of 1937 even though the date of the coin is 1936.
  • Senator Robinson was alive at the time the coin was minted. He died 6 months later at the age of 64.
  • The reverse design is exactly the same as the original Arkansas Centennial half dollar.
  • Senator Robinson was the last senator elected by a state legislature as opposed to direct popular vote.

For more information:

Encyclopedia of the Commemorative Coins of the United States by Anthony J. Swiatek 

KWS Publishers (2012)

Commemorative Coins of the United States Identification and Price Guide by Anthony J. Swiatek

Amos Press Publishers (2001)

 

References:

Encyclopedia of the Commemorative Coins of the United States by Anthony J. Swiatek

KWS Publishers (2012)

The Encyclopedia of United States Silver & Gold Commemorative Coins 1892 to 1954 by Anthony Swiatek and Walter Breen

Arco Publishing, Inc. (1981)

 

 
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